Tips for Helping Children Adjust to a Sleep Diagnosis

When you think of a sleep apnea patient, you may think of an overweight, elderly person. While it is true that sleep apnea is more likely to be diagnosed in older people, children can also suffer from thissleep disorder. Up to five percent of children in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, and many of them go undiagnosed as parents are not aware that something can be done for them.A doctor with experience in sleep disorders can diagnose and treatskids between the ages of 2 and 8–years–old for the syndrome.Juvenile patients are likely to be recommended to use a CPAP machine to treat the symptoms, including snoring, lack of restful sleep and waking several times a night.

How Does Childhood Sleep Apnea Affect Patients?

Children are at a vital stage of development, making it critical to seek treatment as soon as you notice symptoms. Some of the issues that your child may experience as a result of untreated sleep apnea can include:

Inaccurate diagnosis of ADHD

Bedwetting

Obesity

Sleepwalking

Delayed development and growth

How Are Children Treated for Sleep Apnea?

Depending on the child’s overall health, the severity of the sleep apnea and the underlying cause, yourdoctor may recommend a sleep study to determine a diagnosis. Sleep studies can be difficult for children, as they have to sleep in a foreign environment for several hours, so the doctor can get enough data to make a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is given, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids. Removal of these obstructions in the airway can make it easier to breathe at night without the airway closing. However, if this is not a viable solution for your child, your doctor may recommend using a CPAP machine to provide relief. In addition to the CPAP machine, you’ll also need to get a CPAP cleaner and sanitizer to maintain the machine.

How Does a CPAP Machine Work on a Child Sized Patient?

Children get relief from a CPAP machine in much the same way that adults do. The machine creates pressurized air that filters through the mask and delivers continuous pressure as the child sleeps to keep the airway propped open. Once you remedy the closing of the airway,your child can get to sleep and stay asleep, providing the restful slumber that a young body needs. In addition to these forms of treatment, yourdoctor may recommend lifestyle changes to improve yourchild’s overall health. This may mean making changes to diet, exercise, and sleep habits to promote better sleep. Small adjustments, like turning off electronics half an hour before bed or getting at least thirty minutes of exercise a day, can help naturally solve the sleep issues that plague yourchild.

What Other Equipment Will You Need?

In addition to the CPAP machine, you’ll need a method to keep it clean over time. With humidity going through the tubing and mask, mold and bacteria can start to grow from the amount of moisture deposited in these areas. Proper use of a CPAP machine includes the process of keeping it clean weekly to eliminate any byproducts that shouldn’t enter the air supply. If your child is too young to be responsible for cleaning the machine without your help, you’ll need to help them sanitize the machine, mask, and tubing once a week. Using an ozone-based cleaning system, like VirtuCLEAN, will help you keep the machine bacteria free and stop mold growth before it can take hold. Proper sanitizing each week will help you be sure these elements are gone before they have a chance to enter your child’s airway. Using a CPAP cleaner and sanitizer like VirtuCLEAN makes this process much more manageable. The hands-free operation means that all you must do is place the components in the sterile bag and press the button to start the cycle. The rest is done for you with no scrubbing or excess effort required.

With proper CPAP use and regular cleaning, children can get relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea and even stop suffering from the syndrome eventually. If you want to get a VirtuCLEAN CPAP cleaner to keep your child’s CPAP unit pristine, you canclick here.